Primary-voting mechanism.



I o. c. ABBOTT. PRIMARY VOTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1912.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I o. o. ABBOTT. PRIMARY'VOTING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1912. v 1,'1 16,360. Patented Nov. 101914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTIC PROHIBITION WJTNESSES INI/5;?!TOR A/larnzj/ Umrnn sratrnsriaanivrormon..

CHARILES C. ABBOTT, OF PITTSFIEIQD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGOR T0 `TRIUMPHy'VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- mioNor NEW JERSEY.

PRIMARY-VOTIN MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 1(1), 1914.

original application inea February is, 1911. serial Nojeossa Divided amithis application med Ja'nuary: 2, 1912. serial Np. 669,252. i

To all whom tm/ay concern Be it known that I, CHARLES C. nnnor'i, a.citi 'en of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, county ofBerkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inAPrimary-Voting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to voting machines and has for its object toprovide mechanism adapted for use in primary voting, the same being adivision of a prior application filed by me February 13, 1911, SerialNumber 608,383.

The present inventionA contemplates the provision of means for lockingall of the voting members of a voting machine except those correspondingto the nominees of the party of the voter, said last named votingmembers beingv unlocked and in a condition to be operated by the voterwhether said members occupy one or a plurality of lines. I have furthermade provision whereby the locking means for the voting members may becontrolled or adjusted to unlock the vot, ing members corresponding toany desire i party, all others remaining locked.

With the above and other objects in vie 1 have devised the novelmechanism which l,

l will now describe, referring to the accom# panying drawings'forming apart of this specification and using reference characters .to indicatethe several parts.

' Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the votingmembers, con-I necting bars, locking bolts, and adgacent .frame parts.Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the primary lockingmechanism and one line of voting members. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation,partly broken away, of the primary locking mechanism. Fig. 1 is anelevation of the key bar as viewed from the left in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is anenlarged de-I tail elevation of a portion of Fig. 4C with the' lockingbolt in section substantially on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, said view showingthe forin of the keys and the manner of securing thel same in positionon the key bar, and also, illustrating diagrammatically the operation ofthese keys upon the locking bolts.` Fig. 6; is a detail .elevation ofthe latch for locking* the keybar operating shaft in position; I i #Theinvestie@ wherein Shown. as aepledi to a machine of the general typeshown and disclosed in Letters Patent No. 914,006,

granted to me March 2, 1909. The'machine' shown in said patent is ahorizontal machine, so called, in which the names of party I -beunderstood that there may be any suit- -v 'able number of lines ofvoting members and' -any suitable number of columns (i. e. any number ofvoting members in each line) according to the requirements.

12 denotes the framework of the machine which is preferably constructedof sheet` metal forming a casing and providing the necessary supports,guides and bearings for the various parts of the machine.

13 denotes the voting devices or members l as a whole, these votingmembers comprising oscillatozff-7 shafts journaled in the framework andhaving voting levers or keys 14 lying outside the machine in front.. yTurning of these voting members from the non-voting to thexI votingposition, e. e. rotating them in a clockwise direction through asuitable angle from the position shown in F ig.` 1, places them inaposition to cause an operation of suitably arranged counterscorresponding inj number to the voting members. This counti-ngmechanism' is not shown herein as it forms no portion ofthe presentinvention and is fully disclosed in my prior patent above referred to.

15 denotes connecting bars corresponding in number with the party linesof the machine.

16 denotes arms on the voting member shafts, said arms carrying pins 17which pass through sl'ots 18 in the bars 15.

' The voting mechanism thus far referred to is, in a general way, wellknown in the art and will, it is thought, be understood without furtherdescription. The specific construction of the voting members 'and theparts operated thereby form no portion of the present invention.

The normal or nonvoting position of the ,parts'is shownin Figs. 1 andWiththe parts in this position the pins 17, carried by the arms 16 ofthe voting members, are inengagement with the left ends of the slots 18in the bars 15, as shown in Fig. l. None of the voting members in anyline can be turned into voting position, as above described, withoutcausing a movement of the lcofrresponding connecting bar from right to2O denotes primary lookin bolts or members. These bolts are equa innumber to the number of lines of voting members, are guided in suitableparts of the framework, and are movable from an inoperative or retractedposition into an operative position in which their forward ends areadjacent studs 19 riveted to the ends of the connecting bars 15. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 the connecting bars 15 are all in the extremeposition toward the right, and each of. the bolts 20, when in operativeposition as shown in Fig. 2, serves t `o lock the corresponding bar 15in its extreme position, and, by engagement of the pins 17 with the endsof the slots I18, to lock the voting members in the corresponding linein non-voting position.

21 (see Figs. 3 and 4) denotes a key bar or carrier slidably mounted ina guideway formed by the rear of the machine casing and a cover plate 22secured thereto, said cover plate having an index opening 23. Therearward ends of the bolts 20 pass through openings in the rear wall ofthe casing and through opposite openings in the cover plate 22 and arepreferably profvidedoutside said cover plate with heads 24.

25 denotes party markers arranged according to statutory provision andeach designated by an identifyin symbol, herein shown as letters, y A,13, C, etc. The key bar 21 is shown as composed of three plates rivetedtogether, the central plate being provided with a series of projectinglugs or teeth 26. Said lugs or teeth may,

for convenience, be considered as arranged.

in groups, there being a number of teeth in each group equal to thenumber of party lines, and the individual teeth of each group beingdesignated on the key bar by symbols corresponding to the symbolsdisplayed `by the party markers, as shown in Fig. 3. The several groupsare further distinguished by designatin characters, preferably numerals,2, 3, f 4, etc.

27 (see Figs. 2 and 3) denotes a shaft journaled in the framework andprovided outside the casing with an operating knob or handle 28. Theshaft 27 carries a pinion 29 adapted to coperate with rack teeth 30formed on the key bar 21. By rotating the s shaft 27 the key .bar can bemoved longl- `tudinally to bring any desired symbol opposite the indexopening 23..

31 denotes a washer loosely surrounding' the shaft 27 and fixed againstrotation to the framework.

32 denotes a second washer mounted on the shaft 27 for rotationtherewith but movable longitudinally thereof.

33 denotes a collar pinned to the shaft 27 and between which and thewasher-32 is interposed a spring 34. rhe washers 31 and 32 are formedwith interengaging angular recesses and projections and, being held inyielding engagement with one another by the spring 34, form a yieldinglock for normally holding the shaft in certain predetermined angular vpositions. rlhese positions are such as will hold the key carrier 21with one 'of the symbols carried thereby exactly opposite the indexopening 23. The shaft 27 is longitudinally movable in its bearings tocarry the pinion y 29 into .and out of engagement with the rack 30.

35 (see Figs. 2 vand 6) denotes a latch pivoted at 36 to the frameworkand provided with a projection 37 adapted to occupy a position betweenthe collar 33 and the framework to hold the shaft 27 againstlongitudinal movement and consequently maintain the pinion 29 inengagement with the rack 30.

38 denotes a spring for normally holdingl the latch 35 in lockingposition.

39 denotes members carried by the bar 21,

plained. As shown the keys comprise flat strips of metal bent to formangular offsets or cam portions 40. The keys may be applied to the keycarrier in any required position and are held in place thereon byengagement with the teeth 26, the offsetportion 40 embracing one ofthese teeth, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The primary lockingmembers 20 are provided with notches 41 adapted to receive the edges ofthe keys 39.

The operation of the keys 39 in locking and unlocking the 'several linesof voting members will best be understood from Fig. 5 taken inconnection with Fig. 2. In the vformer figure a bolt 20 is shown in fulllines in its operative or locking position and in dotted lines in itsinoperative or retracted position. It will be understood that the bolts20 are guided for horizontal movement only, and that the key bar ismoved vertically to effect the movement of'these bolts. For convenienceof illustration, however, in Fig. 5 the key bar has been represented asin one position only and the bolt 20 shown in two di'erentverticalpositions,

.but it will be obvious that the relative horizontal positions of thebolt and key bar lines, key

`portion on tooth tical positions of the ke bar rather than of the boltshown in this gure. p

When the straight portion of any key 39 is in engagement with the notch41,0f the corresponding locking member or bolt, as

shown in full lines in Fig. 5, said member will be projected forwardlyinto locking po-l sition with its forward end in a position to beengaged by the stud 19 on the connecting bar 15, as shown in Fig. 2,thereby locking the corresponding party line; When the key bar 21 ismoved (that is raised from the position shown in Fig. 5) to bring thecam portion 40 into engagement with the notch "41, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 5, the

locking member is retracted and its forward end carried out of theposition shown in Fig. 2, thereby unlocking the corresponding partyline.

The several keys 39 (see Fig. 3) are preferably provided withdesignating characters corresponding to the designating characters ornumerals provided on the key carrier 21 to indicate the respectivegroups of teeth 26. The keys are applied to the key carrier in such amanner that when the symbol A on the Akey carrier is opposite the indexopening 23 party line A will be unlocked and the remaining party lineslocked. When the knob 28 is turned to bring the symbol B opposite theindex opening party line B will be unlocked, party line A will belocked, and the other party lines will re main locked. In this mannerany desired party line can be unlocked leaving the other party lineslocked. This, in the construction shown, is accomplished by placing thekey 1 with its offset portion 40 on the tooth 26 designated by A(asshown the first group of teeth is not indicated by numerals, which may,however, be applied if desired), he key 2 with itsoiiset portion on thetooth B2, the key 3 on the tooth w, and so on. Should any party occupymore than one line the keys will be correspondingly arranged to causeboth or all of these lines to be simultaneously locked and unlocked. Forexample, should the party B occupy the second and third l will be placedwith its offset A, key,2 on tooth 132, key 3 on tooth B23 key 4 on toothC4, and so on as will be obvious.

In order that the keys may at all times be in engagement with theirrespective notches these keys are preferably formed with their offset orcam portions 40 at a progressively varying distance Jfrom their upperends, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In order to remove the key carrier from the machine for the purpose ofarranging the keys the latch 35 is raised permitting the spring 34 tomove the pinion 29 out of engagement with the rack 30. IThe key carriormay then be withdrawn downwardly from beneath the cover plate 22.

The operation of the machine has, it is thought, been fully explained inconnection withthe foregoing description of its construction but may bebriefly summarized as follows: Let it be assumed thatft the partymarkers 25" have been put in and the keys 39 applied to the key bar 2l:"in accordance with the requirements and asfhei ofore fully explained. Aprimary voterV having entered the polling place and declared his party,the custodian turns the knob 28 until the symbol corresponding to theparty so declared appears` at 'the index opening 23. When this has beendone the primary lock' ing member or members 20 which control the lineor lines of voting members occupied by the party in 'question have beenwithdrawn by the engage-ment of the cam portions 40 of thecorrespondingvkeys with the notches 41 of said members 20, while allother locking members are held by the straight portions of thecorresponding keys with their forward ends in positions to engage thestuds 19 carried by the bars 15 of the other party lines thereby lockingall voting members except those in the lines occupied by the candidatesfor whom the primary voter is entitled to vote.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination withlines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including meansfor locking the voting members in the several lines, a membercontrollable independently of said voting members and provided withmeans for controlling said locking meansfto lock'or unlock the votingmembers in any line or lines, and a cover plate for guiding said member.

2. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including locking members for locking the 'acting members inthe severa-l lines, and a key carrier provided with keys for controllingsaid locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line orlines, said key carrierfhaving a plurality of groups of attachingdevices for said keys, the devices of the several groups being indicatedby different designating characters.

3. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including locking membersy for locking the voting members inthe several lines, and a key carrier provided with keys for controllingsaid locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line orlines, said key carrier having a plurality of groups of teeth forengaging said keys and the teeth of the several groups being indicatedby designating characters. l

4. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism 1ncluding'- locking members for locking the -voting members intheseverallines, and a key carrier providedvwith keys for controllingsaid locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line orlines, said key1 carrier having a plurality of grou s of attachingdevices for said keys,.the e- Vices of the-several groups beingindicated by diierentfdesignatmg characters,and the keys havingdesignating characters corre- Aspending to the characters on the keycarrier.

5. vThe combination vvith lines of voting members, of primary lookinvmechanism 1ncluding locking members or locking the voting members inthe several lines, and a key carrier provided with keys for controllingsaid locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line orlines, said key carrier having av plurality of groups ofl attachingdevices for said keys, and the several devices of each group beingindicated by diderent identifying symbols.

6. The combination with lines of votingV by different designatingcharacters and theseveral devices of each group being indicated bydiiierent'identifying symbols.

l7. `The combination with lines of voting-` lmembers, of primary lockingmechanism including members for locking the voting .40.'

members in the several lines, a member provided with means forcontrolling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members inany line or lines, and a cover plate for guiding saidmember and having.an index opening, said member being provided With identifying symbolsadapted to be brought successively opposite said index opening toindicate the line'or lines of votr` 5 ing' members which are unlocked.

S, The combination With lines 'of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism in- 'cluding locking members for locking the voting members inthe several lines, a key carrier provided with'keys for controlling saidlocking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line orlines, and a cover plate for guiding said key7 carrier and having anindex opening, sai key. carrier having aplurality of groups -ofattaching devices forsaid keys and thev several devices of each groupbeing indicated by identiying symbols, the symbols of one group beingadapted to be brought successively opposite said-index opening.

@9; The combination with lines of voting aliases members, of `primarylocking mechanism in cluding locking members for locking the votingmembers in the several'lines,and a key carrier provided with keys forcontrollingl said locking members to lock or unlock the voting membersin any line or lines, said keys being formed with a straight portion andwith'an odset portion for attaching said keys to, the key carrier andfor engaging and operating said locking members.V

10. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockinmechanism in' cluding locking members or locking the voting members inthe several lines, and a key carrier provided with keysfor controllingsaid locking members? to lock or unlock the voting members in any lineor lines,

vcl

said keys being formed with a straight portion and with an ofl'setportion for attaching said keys to the key carrier, and said lockf ingmembers having" vnotches engaged by the straight and odset portions ofthe keys.

11. rlhe combination with lines .of voting members, of primary lookingmechanism including locking members for `locking the voting members,said locking members having notches, and means controllableindependently ofsaid voting members and-engaging said notches Y:forcontrolling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members inany line or lines.

.12. The combination With lines of voting members, of vprimary lockingmechanism'in# cluding locking members for ,locking "the voting members,said locking members havmg notches, anda member controllable1ndependently of said voting members'and. 'provided with means engagingsaid notches for controlling sai-d locking members, said last namedmember being progressively movable tov lock or unlock4 the votingmembers in any line or lines. f. v

' 13. The combination AWithvlines of voting ibo los

members, of primary locking mechanism including lockingmembers 'forlocking Ithe voting members, said locking members having notches, andakey carrier controllable independently of said lvoting members andAprovided with keys engaging said notches for controlling said lockingmembers to lock or unlock the voting membersin any line or lines. f a

14. The combination -vvithl lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism includinglocking vmembers vfor 'locking-thevoting members,said'locking members havingv notches, and a key carrier provided-Withkeys engaging'said notches for 'controlling said locking members'to lockor unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said keys beingadapted for 'attachment to said key carrier in anydesired position andarrangement.

f L15. VThe combination vvith lines of voting members, of primarylocking mechanism inbers in the several lines, means -forl controllingsaid locking means, Aand a'rack and 'pinion for operating-saidcontrolling means to lock or unlock-the voting members many line orlines.

n 16.` The vcombination with lines ofvoting members, ofprimary lockingmechanism 1ncluding means for locking the voting members in the severalvlines, a sliding key bar for controlling said-locking means, al rack on`said bar, and a pinion engaging said rack for operating said key bar tolock or unlock the votingmmbers in any line or lines.

17. The combination with lines'of voting members, of primary lookinmechanism including locking members or locking the voting members in theseveral lines, means for controlling said vlocking membersi to lock orunlock. the voting members in any line or linesga/ rack connected withsaid controlling means, and a pinion movable into and out of engagementwith said rack for operating said controlling means.

18. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting members in the severallines, means'for controlling said locking means, means detachably`connected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock orunlock the voting members in'any line or lines, and' means for lockingsaid operating means in engagement with saidcontrolllng means.

19, 'The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting members in' the severallines, means for controlling said locking means, means detachablyconnected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock orunlock the -voting members in any line or lines, and a latch for lockingsaid operating means in engagement with said controlling means.

20. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting members in the severallines, means for controlling said locking means, means detachablyconnected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock orunlock the voting members in any line or lines, a latch 'for lockingsaid operating means in engagement with said controlling means, and aspring for holding said/latch in operative ,position.

21. The combination with lines of voting members,`of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the-voting members in the severallines, a key bar for controlling said locking means,a shaft foroperating said key bar to lock or unlock-the voting members in Yany lineor lines, said shaft being movable into and out of engagegaging saidnotches aienwiai said'lmy bar', una a nah for 10erfing 'said shaft inoperative position.

voting members in the several lines, said locking members havingnotches, -a sliding key bar havingmeans engaging said notches forcontrolling the'locking members, and

means 'for operating said. key bar to lock or iniock vthe voting membersin any line or mes. s

28. The combinationwith lines of voting members, of rimary lockingvmechanism including locking-,members for locking the voting members isthev several lines, said locking' members havin notches, means enorcontrolling said locking members, and means detachably connected withsaid controlling means for operating the same to lock or unlockthevoting members in any line or lines.

24:. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting members in the severallines, means for controlling said locking means to lock vor unlock thevoting members in lany line or lines, a rack connected with saidcontrolling means, a pinion movableinto and out of engagement with saidrack, and means for locking said pinion in engagement with said rack.

25. The combination' with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting mem.- bers in theseveral lines, means forcontrolling said locking means to lock or unlockthe voting members in any line or lines, and means for yieldinglyholding said controlling means in certain positions with certain linesof voting members unlocked and the remaining lines locked.

26. The combination with lines of voting members', of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting members in the severallines, means for controlling said locking means, means for operatingsaid controlling means to lock or unlock the voting members in any lineor lines', and means for yieldingly holding said operating means incertain positions with certain lines of voting members unlocked and theremaining lines locked.

27. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including means for locking the voting members in the severallines, means for controlling said locking means to lock or unlock thevoting members in -any line or lines, said means including a shaft, andmeans for yieldingly holding said shaft in certain positions withcertain lines of voting members unlocked -and the remaining lineslocked.'

n l l o said last named means including a stationary washer loose onsaid shaft and a second Washer rotatable with said shaft andlongitudinally movable thereon, said washers having Vinterengagingproject-ions and recesses. f

28. The combination with a framework and lines of voting memberafofprimary locking mechanism including means for'v locking the votingmembers in the several lines, means for controlling said locking -meansto lock or unlock the voting* members in any line orlines, said meansincluding a shaft, and means for yieldingly holding said shaftingcertain positions with certain lines of voting members unlocked andthe remainlng llnes locked, said last named means including a collar onthe shaft, interengaging members on the framework and shaftrespectively, and a spring interposed lbetween said collar and theinterengaging mem er on the shaft.

29. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockingmechanism including locking members"fer locking thev voting members inthe several lines, a key carrier-provided with means for controllingsaid locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line orlines, a cover plate for guiding said key carrier and havmg an indexopening,said keycarrier being provided with identifying symbols adaptedto be brought successively opposite said inarranco dex opening toindicate the line or lines of voting members which are unlocked, and

' means for yieldingly holdingsaid key carrier in certain positions withsaid symbols opposite said index opening. v 30. The combination with aframework locking mechanism including means for locking the votingmembers in the several lines, a key bar for controllingsaid lockingmeans, a shaft .for operating said key bar to lock or unlock the votinmembers in any line or lines, said shaft belng movable. into and out'ofoperative-engagement with said key bar, a collar on said shaft,interengaging members on the framework and shaft and lines fof votingmembers, of primary v respectively for holding said shaft in certainLESTER SHEPARnsoN.

